Fighting fit

1. False. This is a common misunderstanding, but in fact moderate physical exercise does not stimulate the appetite. Research even suggests that an increase in physical activity in normally sedentary people may actually make them want to eat less.

2. False. Fat does not change into muscle any more than muscle changes into fat. Fat comes from the calories you consume in excess of those you need. If muscles are not used they may shrink. When you exercise, muscle tissue develops while fat tissue diminishes.

3. False. You lose no fat tissue through sweating, only fluid which is replaced very quickly by normal thirst.

4. False. Vitamins do not contain energy. They help to metabolize food into energy. Most people get all the vitamins they need if they eat a well-balanced diet. There is, for example, sufficient vitamin C in two pounds of oranges for the average person for a whole week. There is therefore no point in taking extra vitamins, and an excess of vitamins A and D can be harmful.

5. True, but with diet alone you lose muscle tissue as well as fat. When you exercise as well, most of the weight lost is fat.

6. True. This size bar of chocolate contains about 550 calories and walking at this pace you burn about 250 calories an hour. You could alternatively cycle at 13 m.p.h. for 50 minutes to obtain the same result!

7. False. These are calories, not carbohydrates, that make people fat. Some carbohydrates, such as bread and potatoes, actually contain fewer calories per ounce than sirloin steaks or roast beef.

8. False. Dairy foods, eggs, and some vegetables are perfectly acceptable alternatives to meat or fish.

9. False. You would be cutting out very good sources of several B vitamins, vitamin C and other nutrients by eliminating such starchy foods as peas, potatoes, bread, and cereals from your diet.

10. False. It is what you eat, not when you eat, that makes you fat. Light meals and snacks of fruit, nuts or cereals are probably better for you than three large meals a day. Biscuits, cakes and chocolate are disastrous whether eaten between meals or at mealtimes.

11. True. Your body has a biological rhythm and does not metabolize food in the same way at every point in the cycle of roughly 24 hours. Food eaten before 3 p.m. will be consumed by the organism, whereas food eaten in the evening will stock up the body’s reserves, i.e. become fat.

12. False. Just variety is not enough. To provide the body with calories, proteins, vitamins and minerals that it needs to keep you fit, you should have the following number of helpings from the four major food groups each day: two or more servings from the milk group (milk, cheese, yogurt and other dairy foods). Two or more from the meat group (meat, poultry, fish, eggs and meat alternatives such as dried beans, lentils and nuts). Four or more from the bread group (bread, cereal, noodles and other grain products). Four or more from the vegetable group (vegetables and fruit).

13. False. Alcohol helps you fall asleep, but also stops you dreaming in the first part of the night. As the amount you dream overall is the same, the second part of the night will be more agitated, with nightmares and so on. A glass of warm milk or a few deep breathing exercises would be much better for you!

14. False. The average need is seven hours a night. If you sleep more than nine hours a night your life expectancy will be considerably shortened.

15. True. Most people sleep too much rather than too little, but people who sleep less than five hours run the same risk as those who sleep more than nine hours.

16. True. Laughter dilates the neuro-vegetal centers and releases adrenalin which stimulates the pulse, the circulation of the blood, etc.